Book: The Way of the Word: Chapter 66: The King is Coming
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- Jun 9
- 7 min read
There is a weight to final chapters. When you finish a great novel, you feel the closing of a world. When you reach the end of a long journey, there is a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. But as we arrive at the final book of the Bible, the sixty-sixth book, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we aren’t just closing a cover; we are pulling back the curtain on the ultimate reality.
For many people, the Book of Revelation feels like a riddle wrapped in an enigma, covered in a layer of "too scary to touch." We think of beasts, bowls of wrath, and cryptic numbers. But if you walk away from Revelation feeling afraid, you’ve missed the point. The very first verse tells us exactly what this is: “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” It’s not the revelation of the Antichrist. It’s not the revelation of nuclear war. It is the unveiling of the King in His full, unedited glory.
As we wrap up our journey through "The Way of the Word," we find ourselves standing on the edge of eternity. This isn't just about how the world ends; it’s about how the new world begins.
The Architect’s Final Vision
Imagine being John. You’re the last of the original twelve. All your friends have been martyred. You’ve been exiled to a rocky, desolate island called Patmos because you wouldn't stop talking about a man who rose from the dead. You are old, likely tired, and the Roman Empire is doing everything in its power to crush the movement you helped start.
Then, on the Lord’s day, you hear a voice like a trumpet. You turn around, and you don’t see the humble carpenter you walked with by the Sea of Galilee. You see a King whose hair is white like wool, whose eyes are like blazing fire, and whose voice sounds like the roar of rushing waters.
John’s response? He falls down like a dead man.
Jesus places His hand on him and says, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18).
That is the foundation of everything we are about to discuss. Jesus holds the keys. If He holds the keys to death, it means death doesn’t have the final say. If He holds the keys to the future, then the future isn’t a dark abyss, it’s a kingdom being prepared for us.
Understanding the Victory: The Lamb and the Lion
In Revelation, we see a beautiful, holy tension. In chapter 5, John is weeping because no one is worthy to open the scroll of God’s redemptive plan. One of the elders says, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll.”
John looks for a Lion. He looks for a fierce, predatory king. But when he turns, what does he see? “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne.”
This is the "shock and awe" of the Gospel. Victory didn't come through a sword; it came through a sacrifice. The Lion of Judah is the Lamb of God. In Assemblies of God theology, we hold fast to the truth that Jesus is both the suffering Savior and the reigning King. He didn't just survive the cross; He used the cross to dismantle the power of sin and death.
When we talk about the "King coming," we are talking about the return of the One who already won. The battle in Revelation isn’t a "who will win?" scenario. It’s a "watch how the winner takes possession of what is rightfully His" scenario.
The Sequence of Hope: A Theological Roadmap
To understand the end, we have to look at where we are going. In our Pentecostal tradition, we emphasize the "Blessed Hope", the imminent return of Christ. We believe that history is not a circle going nowhere; it is a line moving toward a specific climax.
When we look at the theological progression of the end times, we see a God who is systematically cleaning house. He deals with the corruption of the heart, then the corruption of the world systems, and finally, the corruption of death itself.
The Return: Christ returns not as a baby in a manger, but as the Rider on the White Horse. He comes with justice in His eyes.
The Millennium: Revelation 20 tells us about a 1,000-year reign where Christ rules on earth. This is a time of unprecedented peace and restoration, a foretaste of what’s to come.
The Final Judgment: Every wrong will be made right. Every tear will be accounted for. Evil will be permanently quarantined.
The New Creation: This is the "happily ever after" that is actually real. A new heaven and a new earth.
The New Jerusalem: Our Eternal Home
Revelation 21 is perhaps the most beautiful piece of literature ever written. John sees a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. He sees the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Notice something crucial here: We don't just "go to heaven" and float on clouds. Heaven comes down to us. Christianity is not an escape from the physical world; it is the redemption of it.
In the New Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God is with man. The distance that was created in Eden is finally, fully closed. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Can you imagine that? No more hospital waiting rooms. No more funeral processions. No more mental health struggles. No more broken hearts. Why? Because the Presence of God is so thick, so pervasive, that "the old order" can't exist there.
The New Jerusalem is described with jewels, gold, and light. But the most important part isn't the architecture; it's the lack of a temple. John says, “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” We won't need a building to find God. We will be in Him.
Practical Holiness in the Shadow of Eternity
So, what does this mean for us today, on a random Thursday in the 21st century? If the King is coming, how should we live?
In the Assemblies of God, we talk a lot about "imminence." This means Jesus could come back at any moment. That shouldn't make us check our watches in fear; it should make us change our priorities in love.
If the world is passing away, why are we so obsessed with building empires that won't last? If the King is coming, shouldn't our lives be a "welcome mat" for His Kingdom?
Living with an eternal perspective means:
We value people over possessions. People are the only things that go into the New Creation.
We live with hope. When the news is dark and the world is shaking, we remember that we serve a King who holds the keys. We don't panic; we pray.
We pursue holiness. Revelation 22:14 says, "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city." This isn't about earning our way in; it's about living in a way that reflects our new citizenship.
The Alpha and the Omega
The Bible ends with a conversation.
Jesus says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” And we, the Church, respond, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
That is the heartbeat of the believer. We are a people of the "maranatha": the "O Lord, come." We recognize that as good as life can be, it is not yet what it was meant to be. We are homesick for a place we’ve never been, but a place we were made for.
The story that began in Genesis with a garden ends in Revelation with a city-garden. The tree of life, which was once off-limits, is now in the middle of the street, and its leaves are for the healing of the nations.
God doesn't just win; He restores. He doesn't just finish the book; He starts a whole new one.
As we conclude this deep dive into the Word of God, remember this: the King is not just a figure in a dusty old book. He is the Living One. He is the One who was, who is, and who is to come. And His invitation is still open.
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17).
He is coming. And He is making all things new.
Author Bio: Layne McDonald, Ph.D.
Dr. Layne McDonald is a scholar, author, and minister dedicated to helping people understand the deep truths of Scripture and their practical application in modern life. With a heart for the Church and a mind for theology, Dr. McDonald creates resources that bridge the gap between academic study and spiritual growth. His work is rooted in a commitment to biblical truth and the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives and communities.
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